Do take the time to read Cameron’s speech today – it may be his most convincing yet. In it, he lays into government waste more forcefully than ever before, and outlines a Tory attack on the “three causes of a bigger state and rising public spending” – the cost of social failure; the cost of unreformed public services; and the cost of bureaucracy. It’s the perfect approach, and, suddenly, “sharing the proceeds of growth” makes a whole lot more sense.
The best aspect of the speech, however, is how it humanises the economy. “We need to start living within our means,” Cameron says. The public finances have been stretched to the limit, so we don’t want to increase public spending, taxation and borrowing. In fact, we should aim to cut some of them back. After years of the Labour “investment” lie, it’s a message which will chime with a public feeling the squeeze of rising food and energy prices. It’s a message that people can understand and sign-up to.
Ok, I still have my qualms. I still think the Tories shouldn’t – and needn’t – commit to Labour’s bloated public spending totals, and could thereby create more room for a tax-cutting agenda. But this latest statement is a step in the right direction, nonetheless, and can be welcomed by both sides of the hare-tortoise divide. Bravo, Team Cameron.
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